Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and TNIP Racing’s Tesora remained perfect when impressively stretching out to two turns at Del Mar Sunday afternoon to become the newest ‘TDN Rising Star’. Debuting going five furlongs on the Gulfstream turf Sept. 17, Tesora flew home to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths over a return winner, getting her final furlong in a scorching :10.78.

Dispatched as the 11-10 favorite in a field of six Sunday, the bay got squeezed going down the stretch for the first time and had to settle in last heading into the first turn behind an opening quarter in :23.15. Unhurried down the backstretch, she began to make progress just past the half-mile pole, but had to check midway on the far turn and was still fifth entering the stretch. Once in the clear, Tesora displayed that devastating closing kick once again, rolling to the lead inside the sixteenth pole, and was wrapped up in hand crossing the wire for the eye-catching victory.

A $130,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Tesora is the first foal out of Romance is Roman (In Excess {Ire}), a full sister to Romance is Diane, winner of the GI Hollywood Starlet Stakes in 2007, and Romanceishope, the 2001 Del Mar Derby victor. Romance Is Roman was bred to Dialed In this spring. This is Scat Daddy’s seventh ‘TDN Rising Star’.